Cleveland Browns Trent Richardson made it one step closer to the practice field today.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns running back Trent Richardson was out pumping and churning on the practice field Saturday.

OK, it was just on the exercise bike in the Tour de Berea. But he moved one step closer to practicing and the Browns remain optimistic he'll be ready for the opener against the Eagles here Sept. 9.

"He's very close," said Browns coach Pat Shurmur. "He's done a lot behind the scenes that I haven't talked about. We're hopeful that he'll be out here very soon. I'm very optimistic based on what I'm seeing behind the scenes."

Browns General Manager Tom Heckert is also encouraged by what he's witnessed out his office window.

"I watch him every day," said Heckert. "He's been working out and has had no setbacks whatsoever. He looks really good right now."

Richardson's appearance Saturday was his first in front of the media since he underwent arthroscopic surgery by Dr. James Andrews on his left knee Aug. 9 to remove a small piece of loose cartilage. The knee, which was originally scoped by Andrews in February to repair a torn meniscus, had been swelling up in camp.

Question is, will Richardson be ready for live action only a month after his surgery?

"If he plays, he'll be ready to go and play the whole game," said Shurmur. "He's going to give it everything he's got. (But) I think it's important that this will be his first live activity. Anytime you play a player, you still have to be smart."

Shurmur said he doesn't necessarily need to see Richardson practice a certain amount of days before he'll play him. The Browns have four more practices before the game -- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

"Every player returning from injury is different and we'll make that decision based on that."

Shurmur indicated that in addition to running, Richardson has already participated some simulated tackling drills.

"We have drill-work where it's controlled where he gets banged around a little bit," said Shurmur. "We've been doing that kind of. Unfortunately, you're not privy to that."

Heckert indicated that Richardson is such a physical specimen, that if anyone can be ready after four weeks, he can.

"This kid is a little different cat, now," said Heckert. "I think he's ready to go pretty quick compared to some guys I've been around. What we've seen in the last couple of days (conditioning-wise), I'm not worried about that."

Besides, Heckert said, with players in pads only one day a week under the new collective bargaining agreement, Richardson isn't missing much tackling anyway.

"There's no hitting," said Heckert. "I don't know what practice does for you. It's running and learning the plays. You don't want people to get banged up. I understand that. Would it be great to have him take a hit? In a perfect world, yeah, but I don't think it's really a big deal."

Heckert said the Browns have no formula for how they'll use Richardson the first game.

"Is is five carries, six carries, 10 carries?" he said. "I don't think there's a book where you can say, "All right, he hasn't played, he should only take (so many). Obviously, he's not going to touch the ball 50 times, I doubt that's going to happen. I think there will be some. If he gets a whole week of practice in, we'll see how he is."

If Richardson doesn't start, he'll most likely be replaced by Montario Hardesty, who's still the No. 2 back.

"Unless something changes, I'd say that's fair to say," Shurmur said.

Heckert said keeping four backs this season had nothing to do with Richardson's injury. Brandon Jackson is No. 3 and Chris Ogbonnaya, who's recovering from a high ankle sprain, is No. 4.

"They all bring different things to the table," he said. "Last year Obie had to play quite a bit and he played well. We like those guys so we just figured we'd keep them."

Shurmur said all of the injured players, and there are plenty this preseason, must rehab with a sense of urgency.

"The guys that are injured have got to race back," he said. "There needs to be some anxiety on their part to get back because they're watching someone else possibly take their job."

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